Question:
I've debated with myself about posting this, but if it helps one of you 'Newbies' avoid making the same mistake, then it's a 'good thing'.
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I've 'preached and preached' about doing things properly, but yet, I let myself down. It's bound to happen, no matter who you are. Nobody's perfect! (although we tend to think we are )
I started reloading in Baton Rouge LA on Thursday. I grabbed a forklift there and then headed back to New Orleans for a 'portable water pump'. (they didn't tell me this thing was a 'combo unit', diesel motor, pump & trailer all-in-one)
No problem! 15K lbs max for both units. Took up 1/3 of the trailer (from the front wall).
Dispatch found 16 skids for me up in Memphis TN, so I headed up there. Finished getting loaded Friday about 2:30 pm.
The B/L said 22K lbs. But when I took off from there, it just didn't 'feel right'. Bouncing through downtown Memphis and making it 'out of town' before rush hour(s) started was a good thing! The closest public scale was at the truck stops in West Memphis AR. (Yes, I had to cross the ARDOT scales).
The w/b scalehouse on I-55 rolled me across with no problem, so I figured that I was 'good to go'.
I had planned to scale out at the Cat Scale, but since AR rolled me across...screw it! I'm gone!
Well, needless to say...........
When I rolled across the scale at Steele MO (n/b I-55 from AR), I got the red light and heard, "Driver, set your brakes, DO NOT move your truck and bring in your logbook and drivers license!"
Needless to say, 1 1/2 hours, a Level 2 inspection and 1 over-weight ticket later, I was back on the road n/b.
I ended up getting a ticket for being over weight (on the trailer tandems), had to bobtail to the local LEC and post a 'bond' for the amount of the ticket, before being allowed to remove my trailer from the Scalehouse.
If I go to Court and 'get off', I'll get my money back, but, that's highly unlikely from what the officer told me.
I was 100% wrong, I paid the price for my screw up.
I'm not happy about it and neither is the wife. Hey, $287.50 is a lot of money no matter who you are!
Moral of this? LISTEN TO THE VOICE IN YOUR HEAD!!! Do it right!

Answer:
Ouch!!!!
Once or twice I've fudged when close but have cringed when going across the DOT scales until I have been able to get to a CAT scale... What helps me is the supension pressure guage for the drives. Less than 52 PSI and I'm normally going to be legal but when in doubt, I always hunt up a CAT or InterState scale as soon as possible.I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

Answer:

Yeah, I got a suspension guage too! But it didn't really change much (read about 45-50 psi) after I got the 16 skids on. After all, I was 'told' that they only weighed 22K lbs.
Like I said, my screw up. If ya wanna play, ya will pay!
At least I have no one else to blame other than myself, and I'm man enough to admit it!

Answer:
That sucks. Unless Missouri has changed their fine schedule you were around a ton over. Surprised Arkansas let ya slide.

Answer:

Their scale said, "36,960 lbs."
2960 lbs. over.
OUCH!
Oh yeah, the officer told me, "This is hearsay...but AR only tags ya if you're over on gross."

Answer:
Just because a scale house lets you go does not really mean anything. There are many reasons why you may be overweight and still are able to roll across as if you were so legal as to be Mr Clean himself.
The scale master could be on some kind of break, he could be busy with another driver, the scales may be known to be broken in some fashion and they are just checking for things like IFTA stickers. The list goes on and on.
Sooner or later everyone gets tempted to say 'Screw It" and forgo finding ans using a public scale to check weight, and when you give in to that temptation you roll the dice and take your chances. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
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FYI: Do not take what Hoss paid for his overweight ticket as an example as what all states charge per pound. Some states are a lot higher per pound. I have heard of $1 per pound fines.
Answer:

And this is why YOU are ONE of the BEST! You admit you make mistakes and you allow others to learn from it! I know the ticket is a PITA and you're right the amount SUX, but it could have been worse! - Pete
The only source of knowledge is experience.
- Albert Einstein
Cj aka Fairedust

Answer:
im a NOOB so ima ask a question here... driving my tour bus i dont have to do the scale thing... so im reallllly unclear about weighing and such... but getting geared up for school and a CDL, i figure you guys would love to enlighten me right about now...
so you have a hunch that youre prolly overwieght... im assuming, there are scales that you can go to, sometimes at the shippers place or a truckstop *not sure what a CAT weight station is* that you can weigh and clear it up before you go through a DOT scale and get fined...
so you use this non-DOT scale and find that YES, you are overweight...
do you just go back to the shipper and say, "IM OVER WIGHT, GET THIS LOAD STRAIGHT" or is it your problem? if they have to take a piece of equipent off the truck and your not able to deliever ALL the goods, do you get into some kind of trouble from your company?
please explain to the NOOBS how to handle this situation if you could take it all back and just start over...
im assuming your prolly an O/O... but if youre a company driver what would the consequences be for this ticket?
thanks for any help and i hope this is a good question for NOOBS...
Tinman *its all about the heart*

Answer:

First off, there are non-DOT scales that you as a driver can use. Unfortunately, in some cases, those scales are located beyond the DOT scales so you really have to hope that the bills are correct on the weight. CAT Scales are a brand of scale most commonly used by truckers. Of course there are the InterState brand and the Flying J brand, etc., etc.. But you get the idea.
When you scale a load that you can't get legal by adjusting your trailor tandems, you need to take it back to the shipper. If they are closed or won't reload the frieght, then you need to notify your company that you are not legal and refuse to run the load.

The company does not pay any overweight tickets. Those fall on the driver and under the catch-all that the driver is responsible for making sure the load is legal. It doesn't matter if you're an O/O or company driver, it's money out of your pocket...

Hope this helps and you're welcome.... I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

Answer:
The nearest 'CAT scale' was way across town from where I loaded.
I should've gone over there and weighed, but I didn't. The scales over at the West Memphis truckstops were closer. My fault.
Usually, if my B/L's say there's 30K in the box, I'll run it across the scale and adjust my axles accordingly.
Here's the 'CAT Scale' website. They have a little 'directory' booklet that you can pick up at any location.
http://www.catscale.com/

Answer:
Every load I get, now that I am pulling the company reefer gets scaled over 40K.I have also been known to have a shipper completely reload my truck because I didn't like the way they had staggered my load. (too much in the nose...ets)
When i was pulling the dry van I pulled the pins on the tandems twice in 6 months.

Answer:
awesome... thanks...
im assuming also, that ill be taught this in school... you think?
ill be checking out that CAT site very soon...
you guys/gals are awesome to us N00BS...
Tinman

Answer:

After reading the replies to your questions, I thought they were more than confuseing to a person that has yet to have any training. Wait until the Topic is covered in "school", then ask specific questions on what may be confuseing to you. Weight is a somewhat complicated topic,over gross,over axle and bridge laws all have meaning.
Answer:
Sorry to hear about your misfortune in my wonderful state, Hoss. But something I would have thought you knew about AR by now.....just because their scales are open doesn't mean they are paying any attention to who is crossing.
Being as I drive out of our terminal in West Memphis, and I pick up in Memphis a LOT, I have learned that the scales are ALWAYS open in AR, even when there is no one home. I think they just like to keep the drivers on their toes.
I have crossed those scales overweight before. One time I picked up a load of tires that was full all the way to the doors and I couldn't get the tandems to release. I knew the tandems were too far forward, but figured I'd scale it at the yard. Well, I crossed the scales from Memphis to West Memphis (got the green light) went into the yard and the scales weren't working. Easy drive over to the Pilot, but I didn't want to waste my time. So I keep heading west, crossed the scales over by Hope, got the green light again. Just for the heck of it, I scaled it at our yard in Lancaster, yep, I was over on my tandems just like I thought.
Sometimes you just get lucky. Ever since then, if it doesn't feel right, I take the time to find a scale. And if I have trouble getting the tandems to release, I look for somebody to help, if at all possible.
Hoss, I think it is great of you to post this.

Answer:

Ya know, I usually do scale my loads if the B/L's say there's more than 30K lbs back there. I guess I got over confident after crossing the AR scale there in W. Memphis.
It won't happen again, I can assure everyone of that!